Linwe's Lament

On Blood and Binding

2011-02-22T08:36:00.000-08:00

(a note: because so much time elapsed before I once again focused on this blog, many events will not appear here. I will try to do better from here on it)

With all the strife and battle, and sudden partings, Faulkes decides that he needs to create an artifact, or artifacts to help him and Linwe stay in touch. They meet in the morning down by the dock in the village of Torg where the ship of Captain Scarlet is moored. Faulke leads Linwe back towards the Hive, but takes her up to the windswept hilltop overlooking the town instead.

Faulkes: "Too many pixie ears in the Hive; we can talk up here."

Linwe smiles "I likes it up here. Ye seem to be of a serious frame of mind this day."

Faulkes: "Anyway, I was thinking that perhaps you and I should have a way to... know each other's whereabouts and conditions... like the link I have with Lorelei through her scale. I was worried about you during the battle the other night... and I couldn't find you."

Linwe blinks and then looks at Faulkes expectently "Oh aye? Some sort of..magical thing then?
Linwe smiles "Worried?
Linwe says 'I dunna wish ye to worry oer me'

Faulkes: "Dragons and warriors and such. Of course, I'd worry."
Linwe says 'That be sweet....but..I worry about yerslef too..ye be nae any more vulenrable to them things than I'

Faulkes: "At the very least, I'd like to know where you are if -I- needed a patch up."

Linwe nods "Aye.... and I would want to know... if summat happened... so I could come and heal ye... So do I need to give ye a lock of me hair..or..fingernail clippings... or some such?'

Faulkes: "In any case, Lorelie's scale put it in mind... I'd been getting vague signals from her recently... probably dragon business... and so, I've been working a artifacts that work sort of the same way, seeing as neither of us sheds scales."

Linwe says 'Thank the goddess..'

Faulkes snickers. "You wouldn't say that if you were a dragon...."

Linwe says 'I suppose not..but I dunna be a dragon..I be a elf. I have enough on me hands bein just an elven...'

Faulkes: "Right. So, we need something ot contain a spell or two in lieu of a scale... and I thought specially grown crystals would do the job nicely."

   Linwe nods listening.

Faulkes: "I would need something of yours as a core for your stone... something to grow the crystal around. A few strands of hair perhaps."
Linwe says That be easy enough" Linwe reachs up and plucks a few strands from her head and hands them to Faulkes. 'ANything else? Spit? Skin?'
Linwe says 'Blood?'

Faulkes nods as she hands him the hair, and finds a vial to store it in. "Hm. A small amount of blood to put in the crystal's formula would bind it nicely." He takes out another empty vial , but looks at her doubtfully.

   Linwe shrugs and takes out her dirk and then reaches for a vial from her pouch. She says 'Ye wants me to put some spider venom in this blood to keep it from congealing or do it nae matter?'

Faulkes: "Eeyew... No, it shouldn't matter. I can put it in solid and the acids would dissolve it again."

Linwe says 'Alright.." She hands Faulkes her dirk and holds the vial in her left hand, unstoppered, and then extends her right hand palm up "Ye cut and I will drip"'

Faulkes takes the dagger and nods. He holds her hand and carefully makes a slice beside her life line, just deep enough to bleed freely.

   Linwe watches with a small grimace as the blood wells up from the cut and she holds her palm so it will run into the vial freely. Linwe looks at Faulkes "Do that be enough?

Faulkes cringes a little, then puts his thumb on the wound when there seems to be enough. "While were at it, you may do a similar cut to me."

   Linwe looks down at her hand and his thumb "Ye be diking the dam there?" She hands him the vial with her other hand.

Faulkes: "Oh! Sorry." He holds out his own hand as they juggle knives and vials.

Linwe says 'I have some alum in me pouch... Twil pucker the wound and stop the bleeding. 'Ye wants it in a different vial?'
[11:18] Linwe says 'Yer blood, that is.'

Faulkes: "Yes, seperate vials; I will be making two crystals, one for you to wear and one for me."

   Linwe nods and finds another tiny vial and hands it to him "Here..let me see yer palm"

Faulkes holds his palm up, and holds the vial nearby.

   Linwe takes his hand in hers and the dirk in her other and looks down at his palm. Pressing her lips together, she puts the point next to his own lifeline, closes her eyes and quickly slices a small wound. She cringes.

Faulkes winces... but quickly hold the little bottle up to the swelling bead of blood welling from his hand.

   Linwe watches as his blood flows into the vial and hands him a stopper.

Faulkes pops the stopper into the bottle when he has enough, and goes to suck on the wound.

Linwe says 'fftt..dunna do that..here..' Shr reaches for his hand.

Faulkes give her his hand with a sigh.

   Linwe gives him a swift look of chagrin when he sighs, and takes out the packet of alum. She sprinkles a bit over the open wound and then presses her own hand over the top, applying pressure. Liwne smiles up at him "Tis a two'fer.."

Faulkes: "It stings... I suppose I should get used to having to do this sort of thing... and worse."

Linwe says 'hmmm... well..ye dunna ever get used to drawing blood on someone... tis like taking part of their very essence... ye must allas do it with respect and concern... and when ye does it to eyrslef... ye must pay heed on where ye let it spill.' Linwe unclasps her hand from his for a moment and looks down to see if the wounds have stopped bleeding.

Faulkes looks at the ground beneath their feet. "I believe we didn't lose any, but perhaps you should check.. if you have that kind of magic."

Linwe says 'Tis too paltry a thing to be bothering the spirit world over.' She glances down at the ground, and reaches into herself for a moment. Linwe says 'Rabbit blood...someone had... lunch here.' She quickly searches for a lost rabbit spirit but does not find one.

Faulkes frowns "Dragons... or, with luck, lycan."

Linwe says 'Twere a righteous kill..the spirit went on. Twil most likely be reborn as summat else for its troubles.' She looks down at her dirk, a small smear of blood on the blade. Taking a cloth from her pouch, she wipes the blade clean and then folds the cloth for burning later. She says 'I will burn this..and heat the balde later... there be folks about that I wouldna have near our blood.'

Faulkes: "I hope that we not so important in the grand scheme of things that any would need it in quantity, but it's good to be careful. That's the whole point to these amulets."

   Linwe nods. She says 'Alas... be careful... doesna matter where ye think ye stands in relationship to things... carelessness... be folly when it comes to such things as blood.'

Faulkes smiles. "This is rather like a wedding ceremony, isn't it?"

   Linwe grins "Them be my wise words of the day..I will shut up now." She looks up. "Wedding... ceremony?"

Faulkes: "The sharing of blood. As with our bleeding palms pressed together."

Linwe blinks. She says 'erm..'

Faulkes laughs. "Don't looks so horrified."

Linwe (Linwe Zifanwe) says 'Tis nae..horrified..tis...' She looks around in confusion. Linwe says 'Ye wants me to make some promise or summat?'

Faulkes: "Ah. If you feel trapped at all... But, no, not if you don't want to."

Linwe says 'Nay... nay... tis nae that... tis... twere nae anything I had pondered... ye knows that I love ye... and trust ye... what would ye have me promise?'

Faulkes looks down at their hands. "Let us call this a handfasting rather than a marriage. A year and a day. If you feel the same about me then as you do now, we can talk about promises."

   Linwe looks down at their joined hands "Aye...that be..more than agreeable..and more than I thought twould ever happen to me." She looks up from their hands, a sweet smile playing on her lips. She leans forward and kisses Faulkes. "I love ye."

Faulkes draws her close and returns her kiss. "I think this is most agreeable, dear one.... My beloved."

Linwe smiles again hearing this new endearment and feels a radiant light fill her heart..she blushes and turns.

Faulkes can feel his ears burn as he knows they're turning bright red.

   Liwne steals a glance back at Faulkes, and seeing his ears turn the telltale red, she laughs "We be quite the pair... after all we have done... and we can still find summat to blush oer."

Faulkes coughs, then laughs. "It just never occured to me that the thought would ever cross my mind, and yet... it has, and you inspired it."

The Bane Sidhe and the Green Man

2011-02-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

Whether by a love potion she had experimented with, or through the effect of the Hive, Linwe awakens from reverie with a vivid dream still present in her memory...

Nightmare Tears ~ The Journey

2011-02-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

Twere nae long after I arrived in the realm that a devastating thing happened to me. Seems some dark lord by the name of Nagaroth planted some deadly flowers called Nightmare Tears about the pale and I had the happenstance to wander into a patch. The results..I lost my shamanic powers..and then reverted into a feral wolf. By the efforts of a certain mage adept, I regained what little of meself there were left..and then had to reface meself through a spirit walk. This mage adept..one Faulkes...dreamwalked by my side and guided me in my search, until I once again found my spirit totem and began the long path back to where I had been afore this nightmare. In order to do this, I had to trust him completely...he entered my mind..and saw what I were...all of it. If ye knows me, ye knows, I dunna let folks in. But him, I did, and would again gladly. For since then, I have given him everything else that there be of me.

Linwe and Faulkes obtain an amulet of protection from the fae at Alasse and then cross over to Tari, climbing the snowy slope to the old standing stones.
Linwe stops and stares at the ruins
'I hae a stone..that I will use. This one...there be no table left'
Linwe sighs and begins digging into her pouch for the things she will need
Faulkes nods distractedly as he is fondling another necklace that he is wearing under his shirt. "Lorelei is... far away, but she will try to reach us soon.."
Linwe retrieves a goblet from the sack she carries and places it on the stone and then places a dirk on the stone next to the goblet
Faulkes meanwhile, conjures a rug to protect them from the snow.
Four bowls are taken form the sack then, and Linwe sets them carefully at the four major elemental compass points. Linwe looks down and sees that a bowl already sits to the south
She surveys the position of the bowls and sighs
Linwe says 'I must…prepare my runes first' Faulkes nods and watches her work.
   Linwe kneels behind the stone and pulls out a small canister with a stopper Pulling out the stopper, a mist of blue dust floats on the cold air. She pours some of the dusty concoction into her left hand and begins to chant in elven as she paints herself
Linwe draws the rune, Cy'nath: silence and loneliness over her heart Next she paints the rune Darath , surrender, on her forehead'
Faulkes feels as though he should be doing something, but his style of magic is mostly internal... and he has already prepared himself physically. He watches the skies with concern, hoping that Lorelei can join them before too long.
'Dabbing her finger into the woad once more she paints Sariou, the Moon on her cheek' Then Linwe draws the rune Yen'Lui, balance and chaos on her abdomen. Sighing heavily she rises and approaches Faulkes
Linwe asks 'May I...touch ye?'
Faulkes nods. "Yes, you may."
Faulkes shrugs off his cloak. Linwe holds the canister of woad in her left hand , and dipping her right two fingers into the woad, she traces a rune on Faulkes forehead
Linwe whisprs'Arhain, the rune of secrets and shadows' Then
Linwe murumurs "Hold out yer arms please."
Faulkes pushes up his sleeves and holds out his arms.
Then, on his right forearm she paints the Qaba, rune of hidden knowledge and that which will be revealed
Faulkes smiles as Lorelei lands in the circle.
   On his left forearm, Linwe paints, Auyl'Isha, sorrow
Lorelei Zenfold responds to Faulkes call for aid, and lands in the middle of what appears to be some sort of ritual
Linwe looks down at the woad on her fingers. There is one more ruin to paint.
Faulkes frowns slightly: the runes of secrets and sorrow. He wonders what the fourth rune will be. Linwe gently pushes aside Faulkes shirt, so that she can touch the skin over his heart and paints the rune
Lorelei Zenfold remains silent in order to avoid disturbing, assuming Faulkes will tell her what is needed when the time is right
Linwe murmurs a word in elven, barely audible. The wood elf turns away from Faulkes and returns to the stone She rummages in the bag she brought and extracts several pouches of herb. Walking softly to the bowl at the North she scatters herbs form a pouch into the bowl'
Faulkes speaks to Lorelei in a low voice. "I will need you to... awaken me if I seem to be in distress. I've never attempted to walk in someone's trance state."
Taking a flint from her pocket, she strikes it on a rock and produces a flame and lights a piece of tinder
Lorelei Zenfold looks at Faulkes with a hint of shock
Linwe sings 'O Great Mother, to the North I look, to you who gives life and establishes balance. I bow to you now and as your child humbly ask to be reborn worthy to serve.' Linwe crosses next to the bowl to the east. Raising her hands in supplication she prays " O abandoned ones of the spirit, I petition ye now to once again hear my voice. Your silence rings louder in my ears than the noisiest of gongs. (light pot of lavender) May this smoke rise on the winds from the east and bring my prayers to ye! Then, 'Healing water of the West, that west into which one day I will return (light dried rose petals) purge my body of ill so that I may have the strength to complete this journey.'
   Sighing, Linwe looks to the final bowl
Linwe sings once more 'Burning flame of the South (light juniper) purify me in this quest that I may be worthy and open my eyes to that which is hidden.'
Faulkes smiles thinly at Lorelei's look of shock, but he know that she will know what to do should the need arise.
Linwe proceeds back to the stone that she is using as an altar and once again kneels. Linwe reaches for a small bag and pours a number of round dark seeds into a bowl. She crushes them with a rock to make a fine paste and pours the powder into a goblet'
Linwe pulls out another bag and adds the ground remains of a certain toadstool to the morning glory dust'
Taking the dirk she has placed on the altar, she lifts it, and raises her right palm, staring at the suppurating wound there
Faulkes watches Linwe with concern: He hopes that she can get the drugs down without mishap.
With her left hand, Linwe slices across her palm and lets the blood run freely into the goblet
Staring at her own blood , she then uses the dirk to mix the elements together. Picking up the goblet, she raises it above her head and murmurs a prayer to the moon goddess that protects her and then quickly drinks the contents. Rising, Linwe moves to the center of the rug and sits Linwe closes her eyes and places her hands down on the ground beside her.
Faulkes takes a place next to Linwe close enough that he can place his hand on her forehead.
Linwe sighs and begins to chant in an ancient elven dialect
Faulkes motions to Lorelei to take a seat on the third cushion.
Lorelei Zenfold moves to the other seat and sits quietly
Linwe 's chants become softer as the effects of the drugs begins to work through her system. Eventually, Linwe's head drops and the chanting stops
Lorelei Zenfold reaches for Faulkes other hand, careful to retract her claws, she takes it in her own, watching carefully
Faulkes nods to Lorelei, and reaches out a hand to Linwe's forehead as she falls into her trance. He closes his eyes, and murmur a chant of his own and tries to project his consciousness in Linwe's mind.
Linwe is oblivious to the touch on her forehead, but something stirs deep inside her head...something she knows..but does not know
Faulkes has to struggle to breach Linwe's mental defenses: Not only her own strong will, but also the barrier put up by the venom of the Nightmare's Tears. This is entirely different from walking in an unconscious mind... but he feels himself slide 'between' and comes to rest in Linwe's mindspace. He tries to look at himself to see which creature he has become, and is... surprised at the choice.
   Linwe feels an intrusion into her mind. At first she fights, but then remembers, she will let him in. Struggling against the drugs and the Tears, she opens her mind to Faulkes and allows him to se within her soul. Within the trance, Linwe opens her eyes to a void.''Looking around, she sees a large cat.. a leopard. one that she is not familiar with. Faulkes tries to smile reassuringly as he floats in the void, but it only comes out as a purr. He lashes his tail and spins around unexpectedly. {Linwe... it's Faulkes.}
   Liwne approaches the cat, wondering at its significance. This is not what she was searching for. Were the telthor playing tricks on her? or was it the Tears?
{Faulkes?} Linwe sighs in relief. Linwe reaches up, feeling something on her face. A mask has appeared. {What?!?}
Faulkes: {This place is... strange. there is no ground. Take a hold of my hand... er... ruff.}
Linwe reaches down and wraps her hand in his fur and stares about. A door appears form nowhere in teh center of the void.
Faulkes looks up, or around as he spins, until she stops him. He is surprised at the mask at first. {What are you hiding from?}
   Linwe sobs and rips the mask from her face.
Throwing it down she sees that it is the mask of a wolf
Faulkes lashes his tail. "Perhaps you feel that the wolf form you are denied is false.} She says with determination {I willna hide from this}
Linwe winces {No! It is..me...and it is gone!} Her mind flashes through a series of thoughts: chaos, confusion, raw sorrow
Linwe cries {Stop!} and places her hands to her head
Faulkes swirls around again even with his best efforts at remaining stable. His external self sways on his cushion and looks as though he might fall off it.
The maelstrom in Linwe's head settles and she gazes at the door
Lorelei Zenfold reaches with her other hand to assist Faulkes in remaining upright.
Faulkes settles as Linwe does and tries to lead her toward the door. {What is here?}
   Linwe replies with a falter in her voice {I dunna know} Walking with Faulkes to the door, she tests the handle
'{It be lcoked}' Faulkes: {Perhpas we can just walk around it, but there seems to be nothing on the other side.}
[19:28]   Linwe peers around the edges of the door, and ses nothing but more void A knock sounds at the door'
Linwe stares at the door once again and reaches for the handle
Faulkes growls, and the leopard growls. {ou must find a way to open the door.}
{Should I....let it in?}
Lorelei Zenfold studies Faulkes face as he lets out an inhuman growl
A knocking once again sounds at the door
Faulkes: {You have come to discover... To discover you must open the door.}
Linwe stares at the door, sets her lips in a line, and wrenches the door open.A shadow stands in the sill. A shadow oddly familiar in form. {Help me} it pleads. Weak, tired, frail and timid, unkept, the effigy of Linwe, but not Linwe
Faulkes sits on his haunches and watches to see what Linwe will do. he rubs his face with a large, lushly furred paw.
Liwne backs away in alarm Faulkes swats Linwe with the big paw.
The shadow raise s its hand, and drags forward a giant sword Linwe lurches toward the shadow, and as she touches it, the shadow becomes one with her. She gasps.
'{No..ye are not a part of me!}'
Faulkes: {Is she not?}
   Linwe sobs, and then realizes the lie
She weeps into her hands, but then, pulls herself up
{We must..go on}
Faulkes stands an lashes his tail, a motion that translate into the outer world as a swaying of his rear as he sits. {Yes, We must.}
Lorelei Zenfold continues to hold Faulkes steady, while seeking her own center for balance and the energy he may need as he continues his journey
Taking a deep breath, Linwe looks through the door and takes a step. On the other side she sees a stream running off into the distance. A tumultuous roar can be heard 'The dire wolf, the feral Linwe, appears'
This wolf runs to her, and frisks and plays and licks at her face She tries to push the wolf away
{Ye be nae my wolf! Ye be wild.....unconstrained....}'
Faulkes's ears lay back and he crouches... not know whether to pounce or flee. The small wolf looks -relatively- harmless but the dire wolf, even a leopard would be to match for it. He growls. {Maybe, Maybe not. He is the fierce and scary part of you.}
Linwe stares at the frisky wolf and extends her hand. WHen the wolf reaches forward to lick it, the animal disappears into her Linwe sighs and looks at the cat
{We must travel farther}'
Faulkes wuffs. {Not so bad. Everyone should be a little bit scary, yes?}
Linwe mutters {Ye will regret saying that, I am sure}
Faulkes purrs, and the outer Faulkes purrs with a grin.
Once again Linwe looks off down the stream to a patch int eh distance, vibrant with color
{Let us go there..it seems ..pleasant}'
Linwe's eyes focus on the riot of color and she tugs at the cat's fur
Faulkes wuffs. {Never assume.} But, he pads after her swaying his tail and swiveling his ears around to catch any sounds of danger.
{It says.."Come!"}'
Arriving at the spot, a wall appears. A short circular wall. But within are magnificent pink azaleas and cosmos, swaying in some breeze she cannot feel
Faulkes: *wuff* {I don't like this. It feels familiar and bad....}
{But they be so pretty!}'
Linwe extends a hand towards the wall, with every intention to pick some flowers.
Lorelei tightens her grip on Faulkes as she feels him become tense
Faulkes growls again, deeper and more threateningly.
Faulkes: {Look before you reach. That is how you got into this mess, it it not?}
Linwe whispers {But..how could I know? No one told me!}
Linwe retracts her hand and looks again. The wall fades, and slowly, the fresh pink flowers turn to a deep and dark purple Placing her free hand to her mouth she gasps{Oh!}
Faulkes: {There was a wall. I always thought it was not high enough to keep out the determined. And the flowers in Torgan -look- evil.}A realization comes to Linwe. A memory, from the feral wolf. She had also been stung by the flowers in Torgan. Before the unseelie fae shot her
Faulkes: {What will you say to them now?}
Linwe hisses {Nay! Ye willna have me! }
Faulkes: {Find the dark place that they are hiding.}
Linwe raises her hand in a remembered gesture from before her powers had been taken
[I cast ye out of me! By the moon goddesses will, ye willna hae me!}'
I reject what ye are..and will have no part of ye!}'
Faulkes wuffs and growls and lashes his tail, crouching to pounce on the flowers if need be. But, it is a joyful readiness knowing she will use her will to expunge the evil influence.
[19:58] Lorelei looks for a sign of trouble as Faulkes growls again, but sees none, she relaxes and continues to hold him upright
[19:58]   A shaft of light bears down on the flowers, and they disappear, to be replaced by her spirit totem, the silver wolf telthor that had abandoned her here days before at these stones Feral dogs rush out, surrounding the wolf.
Faulkes's playful stance immediately stiffens in reaction to the threat he perceives. For a moment the elven Faulkes loses himself to the feline mindform, and he snarls and screams, claws extended.
Linwe grabs his fur and pulls him back
{This be mine to do.}' Linwe releases his ruff and her rowan staff appears in her hand. She firmly sets her teeth and snarls at the dogs As she attacks, the dogs, disappear, one by one, until she makes her way to the wolf in the center.
Lorelei reacts instantly to Faulkes scream which sounded like the sound of a cat, and grips him tightly, extending a sharp claw to lightly pierce his wrist
The silver wolf inclines his head and grins at Linwe. {So child of mine. You have returned} Linwe kneels in front of the wolf and wraps her arms about his neck.
{I dina choose to leave!}'
The wolf looks at her with golden eyes {Oh?}
Faulkes's fur is still all on end, threat-growling deep in his throat as Linwe battles the beasts. He calms, though, when he feels a sharp pain in his front leg... a reminder that he is not, in fact, a leopard after all. Panting, he lays down on the ground to ovserve the interaction between Linwe and her totem.
Linwe looks down chagrined. {That...be an untruth. I did leave.}
The wolf nods. {But you will make it right.}
Linwe nods. A beam of light again comes down, bright silver moonlight, and the silver eye of the moon goddess can be seen above
{Return now. And do your duty. As you have pledged to do} With this, the large silver wolf vanishes and once again the void surrounds them Linwe whispers down to Faulkes {It be time to go home}
Faulkes nods and stands. Quickly he pads away back the way they has come ad the landscape begins to dissolve. He finds the Edge and the barrier an slides back out again....
Faulkes's external self drops his hand from Linwe's forehead and slumps over.
Liwne closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Slowly, she feels Faulkes retreating from her mind. When he is gone, she begins the journey back
[20:13] Lorelei catches Faulkes as his body goes completely limp in her grasp. The dragon whispers: Faulkes?
The feeling comes back to Linwe's fingers first, a tingling sensation. She wriggles them slightly and lifts her chin. He r unfocused eyes look up into the eyes of a dragon, unknown to her and she smiles
Faulkes moans. "I'm here.... I feel odd."
Linwe whispers 'I be...here' The elf reaches over to take Faulkes hand
Lorelei relaxes her grip on his arms: Did you find what you seek?
Linwe nods "Aye...I did..and I thankee for being here for Faulkes
Faulkes takes both Linwe's hand and Lorelei's; He notes a thin thread of blood on his left wrist... and smiles a little.
Lorelei nods
Faulkes: "Um... Linwe, this is Lorelei. Lorelei -- Linwe."
Lorelei : I gave him my word and my bond. He is forever under my protection
'Linwe listens to her stomach grumbling and complaing'
Linwe says 'I hope someone have some food here other than...raw deer leg' She looks up and smiles at the dragon.
Faulkes chuckles and conjures a bowl of apples.
'I hae a memory...that when I were..altered..that I mayna hae been kind to ye..and an offer of healing..and I apologize for I dina know what ye were then...except a menace with wings.I hope that we can be firends'
Lorelei : of course. I understand the ways of dark magics, and that you were not of yourself.
Linwe smiles
Faulkes has to smile a little at that.
Lorelei : I am merely a healer, and will assist all who but ask.
'Faulkes....there be things... I need say to ye also..but later'
Faulkes: "Thank you for coming, Lorelei."
Linwe watches as the dragon rises
Lorelei grins at Faulkes, I apologize for the hole in your wrist
Faulkes: "No problem."
Lorelei : well met Linwe.
Linwe waves 'Namarie'
Faulkes: "Safe skies..."
   Linwe sighs and takes a deep breath of the cold air Wrapping her fingers around his she looks over 'Thankee'
Faulkes nods. "You're welcome. I empathize with your now-passed problem, and celebrate your release."
Linwe looks down 'May I speak...freely?'
Faulkes: "I just hope I didn't leave any hairballs behind. Thos feral dogs really gave me a fright."
Faulkes: "Pleas do."

Fades to black

Time...disappears

2011-02-10T12:13:00.000-08:00

Another New Beginning

A long while ago, I were the ambassador to a land called Sylvhara...from the place called Erebos. It seems that place called me back, but..in the calling the path became..muddled..and things didna work as planned.

Nae ever a light elven..or high elven, I soon found that I just didna fir into what were going on..and being what I am, many didna listen to me words. I had to make decisions. Hard decisions. And mayhaps they dunna be exactly right, but they be closer to what I believe than to what I were living.

And..I fell in love..

Singing Trees

2010-11-24T08:38:00.000-08:00

Seems once again, the journey has taken a different route than expected, and after having traveled through land upon land, I found a place that spoke to me with singing trees. And have made this place of peace and quietude my home. Many of my friends have joined me on this journey: Cassandra and Sweet Pea, Ghason, Mandylynn, Tithehul, Galadriel and Celeborn, S'rena and Ivarruaia and some strange bent old man who fals asleep on teh ground as ye speak, Elestria, of course, and Dexler and Jusitne, and my grandson Alak...but...still no sign of Jacen...(taps foot and looks at the pile of boots she has been carrying around). We have each found out little space here. And hopefully, we can be happy and live out our stories as they are meant to be lived.

An End To An Age

2010-11-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

Tis been a long while since I wrote in this journal of mine….been travelin', ye see, fleein' from devastations and such. The dragons died. The Ancient One, too weary to go on, and his mate Saia, because she couldna bear life without him. And the land howled and raged at their deaths, for it was their lives that gave it breath. And without the protection of the mighty beasts, the evilness began to spread across the land. Seems our small band of people just canna escape from the evils that pursue them. A horde of demons moved inter the Underdark of Arran, bringing with them pestilence to the land. And a personal pestilence to meslef and Jacen. Tis nae everyone can claim that they be shot down in eh midst of their marriage proposal. After all these years, what were started as a joke has turned into a reality. And I didna even have to pay twenty horses for him as that old tavern wench said I would~! His family no seemed to mind, seeing most of them be either previously married to elves or be elf kin themselves, so that were a mercy. Bein' what I am, I canna have children anyways…so tis nae like I be walking away from the People with any duty or obligation to reproduce meself. So, with Samhain looming, Jacen and I sneaked off to the forest, with Swith as witness, and had her tie the knot on the string. Now handfasted for life, in the traditional way. Jacen had to go back to the wars, bein so commanded by his unclew Kalvan. And I were left with the mess of getting folk out of the land afore the great storm hit. I could see well enough that the portents this time be true. The land dwindled and began to die around us. Trees withered and fell over in their places of rest and rocks began to crumble. Justine disappeared altogether with the disappearance of all the dragons. Wulf had put out to sea, so I knew she werena with him. El and Mandi I sent to Waterdeep to be with their children until a suitable home could be found. I assumed that be where Justine had fled to also. Swith, in her way, picked up her lute and left. No use for a bard to stay if there be no one to sing to. No coin or rum in that. Dexler packed up his donkey. The fae were warned to take flight and find some safe ahven. In the end, all that were left were meself… and the spirits of the dead that still roamed the land. On Samhain, I built the fire. Twerent hard for me to do since all the trees ahd died and parched in such a short time. I dragged the wood down to the beach, facing the westering sun, and lit it as dusk approached. Far out to sea I could see the storm, hanging on the horizon. I were grateful that at least I could do this one last service for the land. As the flames rose, beckoning to the darkness that were falling, I began the prayers for the dead, sending their spirits on to where they would enjoy rest for their eternal times. I stood by that fire until midnight, stoked it as high as I could, and mounted Moonbeam and rode away, ne'er looking back once. The fire would be consumed by the wave. And I didna want to be there to see that. Twas the end of an era for me. The end of Arran. A land I loved, a land where I had breathed my own life into its very core.

2010-10-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today I traveled with Elestria, my adopted daughter, to Waterdeep, where her son...my grandson..Alak be fostering. Tis sad that we must keep him there, but Arran be too hostile for raising children, I I wouldna want the drow getting their hands on him. He be a sweet child, but much like his mother in many respects. Unfortuantely, he do have his father...Solun may he burn in the Abyss forever..etes. Ruby red. Unlike his motehr's beautiful amythest eyes. I look forward to more visits with him, when I can get away from my duties in Arran. Tis a good thing for a child to know his family, and I wish Alak to know the elven side of life, even though he be drow.The change has to start somewhere and it may as well be with my kin. El be makin sure that he do know both drow and the elvish tongue, and he be speaking Comon right plain now. That be thanks to Justine's mother. Didna have much time to stay, so only saw Justine's children in passing. They looked strong and healthy. The boy much like his father; the girl as pretty as her mother. Thank the goddess Justine's mother be such a saint and takes our children in! I couldna bear thinking about what would happen if they werena safely away.

Pesky Demon

2010-06-18T09:15:00.001-07:00

Pesky thing he be, this demon. He wants summat, I can tell. Seems he finds me no matter where I be in the realm....last eve I were just sittin on a log playin my lute and poof..there he be in his cloud of brimstone and sulphur, haggin and natterin at me. Elestria came down from the Hall and we ahd a lively discussion on why she doesna be a normal drow. ffftttttt...she told him for sure. And then she put me into a fit of laughter. Her mind works in such strange ways! She asked me what would bother a demon and I told her love and caring and serenity and peace. So she grimaced and ran towards him and said "Take that! you demon!" and she hugged him! If ye could hae seen the expression on that ones face! He flew off right quick after that whilst I purified her from his taint. She be a right plucky one, my daughter. I be so proud of her!

On Demonic Manifestations..or summat like that

2010-06-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

This demon...Ivarru he says his name be....he keeps poppin up everywhere...sardonic and glib he be and a tad more scathin than some...Swith took exception and wrote a song about him for the bard circle..good thing he didna show up until later! Then she'd have more than just Saia the Silver after her! I needs to know how he found his way through the rift...he doesna answer to anyone..so he canna have been called forth. And I dunna want him to find out I have that soul stone...twould cause even more trouble. Caught Livvy and Oak together again this morn...took them both to task this time...she hasna a clue...naive human that she be. I tried explainin to her the elven perspective on things and made her sad..but do she be sad enough to do summat constructive about it or like other humans, just sit back and wallow in it? At any rate...we need to keep ehr occupied until the Solstice. Rowan says the land needs teh sacrifice and if Rowan says so who be I to argue? If the human bes nae strong enough to survive then twil be a paltry effort. I hope rowan has chosen wisely. Last eve a wanderin minstrel named Paddy came through..one I have met in other realms afore..twas good to see and hear from him but he surely were dressed in the oddest arrangement of clothes I have ever seen...Swith says were his courtly minstrel clothes..shakes head..humans...twere garish to my eyes. (smirks) I told the dragons about the demon bathin in their lava pool. They werena pleased...(laughs) That will fix him...

2010-06-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

What a mess....I caught that Olivia with the wild elf again..and as I feared, her influence be changin him and not to his betterment to my mind. He didna even hear as I approached them there in the fae cove! When an elf ignores his own inherent abilities over a human then that be far too much human! Jacen had to step between the wild elf Oak and that arse faced dog of a tavernkeep, Wulf, or there would hae been blood on the tavern floor. ANd twouldnt be the elf's, I can tell ye that! So now Jacen wants me to appeal to the wild elves..to settle the peace. (sighs) I will speak to Oak..aye...but...I dunna see that it will do much good. I think the answer lies in the human, Olivia. She started this. She must stop it.
In the middle of all this that thorny mage Delrethious be askin me for a soul stone. (snorts) Like I would turn oer such a thing to him who be nae bolstered in any faith that may prevent the use of it for its original purpose. He says he can use ti with essences like blood and spit and such..but I have never heard of such a thing..and to bind any essence into an evilness like that be almost as abd as binding their soul! Anyways..it be for Lore. If I can find his wanderin soul that were cleaved from him when he be made into a undead, then mayhaps I can restore it to him..make him whole again or at the least, put him from his misery and send him to a real eternal rest. And that conninvin female Emily...she were goin to kill me! Because I wouldna let her marry Lore! I knew there were more to her than meets the eye. Turns out she be the daughter of some necromancer bent on findin Lore's wealth. Loew be goin to Venice, his home, to try to lure her away. (shakes head worriedly) I canna help him there. I will worry the whole time he be away. And I need to know...why do there be a demon fgloatin about? A pretty one at that..nae yer average res scaled monstrosity but this one be darkly beautiful. Them mages must be playin about with summat and one called him into this world. I will go shake a finger in their arcane faces if they be doin such as that!

2010-06-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

Where be me willow bark tea? Tis bad enough I have fae on the rampage now that fool human female, Olivia have started a war between the humans and wild elves. She said "But I loves him!" ffftttt....She canna even speak his language! She be young and foolish and doesna have whit one about what love be or not be. Love a wild elf....that will get her killed for sure. Their clan leader will no put up with summat like that, for sure. Rowan be right protective of her brother, Oak, and I can tell ye now, no human female be goin to snare him away from the wood. Livvy got herself knocked oer the head oer this whole business. And wouldna tell me how or why. So I sent that oaf, Wulf, the tavern-keep, out to look for whoever doid such a thing to her, thinkin mayhaps some dock lout were waylayin females. Her little indiscretion of not mentionin to me that it be Rowan who did her head in caused a load of trouble. Seems Oak didna know what his sister were up to and were lurkin about hopin for a glimpse of Livvy. Wulf saw him and assumed the worse, I guess and went after him. Oak, of course, bein a wild elf, had the upper hand and beat him to the ground, takin some savage blows to hisself in the meantime. I came upon Oak huffin and puffin oer Wulf's body, healed them both and once again took Livvy to task for startin such a mess. Then along comes that Delrethious..the half elf half human mage who doesna comprehend whit one about elviness. He and Justine ran up. Justine were such a grand help to me curin folks that needed it and tendin to Livvy's head. (That fool Wulf gave her hard spirits with a head injury...twas a god thing she didna pass out into oblivion). Delrethious couldna see why there be such a problem and muttered summat about cultuures. He deosna even know his own so I dunna listen to anythin he has to say about anyone elses. Seems he sees naught wrong with the humans cuttin down live trees in the wild elf forest without a by yer leave or any sort of reparation. What be this world comin to? Fae that hurts animals that are defenseless and now elves that dunna know the importance of a living tree?!?!?!!? At any rate, I had Justine cart Wulf's arse back to the tavern so Oak wouldna kill him on the spot. Then I spoke with Oak a bit and then I went to find that Olivia and have a word or four or five with her. I be here to tell ye, I tyold her she'd ebst come up with some way to fix all this or there will be war. Rowan wilna tolerate some human harmin her brother. Wulf be a marked man. Not that a give a fig what happens to him. He be a worthless walleyed lout. Oh...and then that other mage, the one with the same name as the evil dragon, Zara, showed up. I ahd had about my fill of humans for the day but were polite to her. Asides..I needs some magic done and I canna go to Delrethious about it meself. I willna be beholdin to that one. SO mayhaps she be the answer. We will see. believe what happened this rampage but now

fffffttttt.....fae

2010-06-06T18:05:00.001-07:00

Ye know...there be fae..and then there be fae. I has a little friend named Cele...Celeborn to be exact..he be the sweetest little fae ye ever did see and sometimes so verra sad..and I be tryin to find a solution for a problem he has. And then there be the other two...Emy and Jordan. Seems they ahve ants in their pants lately, them two. Naughty as naughty can be. Found them shootin flints at me sheep this day in the village and gave them what all for it. What if one had missed and put one of my sheep's eyes out!>!>! Poor Maeve and Fiona....stuck in a stall unable to defend themselves...twas just nae right..or what if one ahd gone astray and hit Swith sleepin in the next stall? And put ehr eye out??? So when I took them to task what did they do? That Emy..who I thought were my friend, rasied that blow pipe to ehr lips and shot at me! At the Elven Eldar! At the Grand Shaman! I think she be out of her head! So I unleashed an earthquake and some wind to stop ehr in her tracks. Jordan picked her up and dusted her off..tsking about me over reaction but....tis innocent animals they be tormentin with their pranks. Well..I've cooked them...I went to the fae cove and found their Queen and told her all about it. She and I came up with a solution. Twil keep the pair of them busy for a bit. Naughty things.

2010-06-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

I went to look for a new flock of sheep today and found myself befriended by a small boy when I landed on the shores of the Outer Islands. He didna tell me his name, but lead me about showing me the different flocks. We stood by the edge of the sea and watched the surf pound in. Twere unimaginably ( beautiful there. (Alchemy Immortalis sims) So I bought some sheep...but I will nae be keepin them in teh village again. I will find a safe place where they canna become turned purple or some such. When I returned abck to Erebos I found Olivia dancin's some giddy dance otuside the bakery. Why she should be so excited be beyond me. Said she'd been swimmin' with a friend. She asked a most eprplecxin' question fo me: Do there be a spell that could change a person into a wild elf? Silly. Be like turnin' a dog into a cat. Humans do confuse me. Ye would think in their short lives they would try to find out the msot about themselves rather tahn always tryin' to be someone or summat else. Lore came by then, so we ended that discussion. His dilemma be real and important for his decisions could mean life or death to him and the young Emily. I have found he usually makes the right decisions once he be presented with enough evidence. I hope this be the case. He said he were off to destroy the potion. I hope so. But something be wrigglin' away on my mind. Sumpin' be...not quite right...

Dilemma's

2010-06-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

I had to check to see that my tongue were itnact today. It were there, thankfully. I told Swith and Olivia that I think cabbages be growin in their ears. I know I talk loud enough. And often enough. sighs. At any rate, I ahd to go fetch Olivia outta the forest today. AFTER I ahd just given her a big talk about the dangers out there and how the wild elven dunna like humans. She be so sweet, though, and naive. She wanted top "be their friend". Aye, well, friendship goes two ways. Tis a good thing I speak wilder or she may have come to some real harm. And Swith, she be darting here and there avoiding Saia, the silver dragon, so she doesna have to turn over her lute. Twas a case of flappin' tongue that did her in. I explains it this way: When dragons be around, watch what ye say and how ye say it. They dunna think like anything but dragons. ANd expectin them to come down to yer level be madness. They wilna...ever...So Swith made a remark that were all inclusive of teh company at large, dragons bein' present. She referred to everyone as bein "daft". First of all, dragons dunna consider themselves one of "us". So the first insult were that they were included in a hodgepodge of humans, fae and elven. The second were the word. Saia decided recompense needed to be made for her gaff. And wants her lute. Now ye need to know a few things bout my friend Swith. She be one of the finest minstrels I ahve heard the world oer. She can spin words into songs and her fingers can pull things from that lute that no other person ever could. Especially not when they's consumed several mugs of rum. She be about the worst sort of sot ye ever did see. Unless ye knows what lies inside. There be some that dunna understand why I would befriend such as her. Well..tis easy for me to say. We both be misfits in our won ways. Ye know why I am. She has her own sotry and tells it in another place. (http://jongleur-des-gestes.blogspot.com/) She ahve had that lute of hers for most of her liofe. It be like her own soul, that lute. To look at it ye would think it junk. But what comes form them strings be magic. She would shudder hearin' me say so, since she doesna like magic at all. But it is nonetheless. Saia will coem for it on the morrow. To teach Swith a lesson. Now bothe Livvy adn I ahve said to ehr, Saia be nae a cruel dragon. SHe be the Guardian fo Balance, after all! I know for a fact she would enver keep the lute. She jsut wants to teach Swith a lesson. Swith be bridlin' under the authority and I can see her mind swivelin' about tryin' to conjure up some wya outta it. For a person who doesna hold with magic her mind sure does conjure enough of it. sighs...She be diggin' her won hole deeper. I can tell. And if that be nae enough for one person to worry oer, there be that human, Emily,and her obsession with Lore. Now there be a set of deaf ears if I ever saw one. I needs to think about that one. Tricky problem. But dunna worry, I will come up with summat. I always do.

The Present

2010-06-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

Erebos. Tis a darker land than some. Mountainous, full of ruins. Ye know how some folk seem drawn by some external force beyond their control into situations? Well, this be one of those. Some of the elves came with us and I found myself still the Eldar. Most of us be wood elves, wild elves, or half elves. So none of us be high and mighty or high arsed. We live closer to the land than we did in Aglarond. More in tune with the world. The natural world, that is. Erebos be a sundered land. The queen there had been consumed by the land itself for her wicked ways and instead of a new despot of royalty rising, dragons took over the land. The land itself demanded Guardians. These Guardians be guided by the elemental principles, chosen by the land itself. sighs...I be the Guardian of Conflict. I guess when I stepped foot on the soil and the earth felt me, she said "This one be conflicted!" And there I was! I had studied druidism with the wild elf, Rowan, back in the old place, and soon rose to be a Grand Shaman. Dedicated to the spirit of the wolf. Tis funny how things work out. As an Oracle of Selune, I were more of what they call a Harper, whcih be a ranger bard cross. Now I find myself havin to give up my bow so I can take up a staff. I traded arrows for lightning. And a few other things. Ye know, some calls me a tyrant. sighs....I'm nae tyrant. I just wants what's right.

Aglarond

2010-06-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

Years passed by and I spent many in Waterdeep. never quite fitting in. Most of the people from the temple were human. There were a few halflings and other sorts of people but no other lythari like myself. They told me lythari usually keep themselves separate from others. Aye, well, what can I say to that? I didna like the city much. The High Elven that came there would have nothin' to do with me. I decided that the world be big and if there be others like me out there somewhere, twere more likely I would find them afore they found me. Seein' as how they didna know I even exist. I raambled about for a number of years (did I forget to tell ye..I be about 300 now...still fairly young for an elf) and ended up in the middle of Faerun in a land called Aglarond. I made two verra good friends there. Now, this thing I am, tis nae like them were folk. They canna help it when they become what they are. The moon turns full and out they come, grizzly and gnarly and warped. Me, I decide when and where I want to be a wolf. And it be nae like them. They loses themselves somewhere in all that fur and teeth. My brain stays the same. I can still think just like I can when I be an elf. This thing I do scares folk. Few have heard of lythari and they assume that I must be the other. So I keeps my mouth shut about it. Tis safer. ANd saner. Aglarond. I didna tell anyone what I be. Twas the sort of place ye just knew ye would end up tied to some post with bunches of faggots at yer feet. I told folk what they wanted to hear. That I came from a fishing village on Evermeet and were raised by Moon elves when I were orphaned. Noone ever questioned me. They just assumed I be a Moon elf. I cleaned up my speech a bit, bought some good clothes (at least my foster parents saw me right in that..they didna send me away destitute and I got a pretty penny for the boat) Place was ruled by a despot queen called the SImbul. She were half crazed most of the time. I joined the rangers, since I ahd my bow and needed to do something. Within a few months I found myself the leader of the elves. Twas a strange thing, that. Bein' the vocal sort, I guess I expressed my opinion about happenins enough that someone decided I should put them words to practice. I met lots of folk in Aglarond. Some of these folk be with me still. Swith. Rowan. Elestria. The Family (Kalvan, Mandi, Brianna, and Jacen) We all fled the place. ALong with several of the fae folk, the Queen, Cassandra, and Emily. We all fled. But that be a whole nuther story for another time. One day, we all found ourselves in Erebos. And that be our home now.

What Happened Next

2010-06-02T20:40:00.000-07:00

sighs....I know..this be all some ancient history but there do be a few out there who dunna know it..so bear with me and I will try to be brief as I can be. So I sailed to Waterdeep and went to that temple. They asked me bunches of questions and I were hesitant to tell 'em all the strange thing that happened to me back on teh elf island, but they sort of had it already figgered out. They clucked and hemmed and hawed and made comments that them Moon elves should have sent me there afore the big event...or at least have sent me back to some of my own kind. Found out they be way far away and that my parents were most likely the last of the lythari left on Evermeet. Lythari. At least there be a name for this thing that happens to me. It bew right strange to ahve two of yerself, ye know. More like...two bodies. One elven..the other....wolf. Grey wolf. With green eyes. At least that's what I see when I be that way and look in the river. And it seems there be a purpose for my kind. We do service to this Moon Goddess of the name Selune. She be the good one. Shar be her twin, the bad one. And ye allas knows....where there be good, bad surely raises its' head. In my case, the bad be lycan. Were folk of the wolf type. Bipwdal hybrids between a human and a wolf. At least I be a real wolf and dunna bay under the full moon like some savegey thing. SO I learned how to be an Oracle to this goddess and were sent out to find these lycan and either convince 'em to give up their wicked ways or kill 'em in teh Giddesses name. Tweren't exactly how I had planned my life out back there on Evermeet.

Beginnings

2010-06-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

When I were naught but a toddler, barely out of nappies, me foster parents, goodly Moon elves from a small fishing village on eh Isle of Evermeet, found me under the dead body of my mother. They did nae tell me much about her, and alluded to her more in looks and whispers than in actual spoken words. What I were told was that I were a wood elf, of sorts, and that I would find my true self at a later date. But when I asked, they would never tell me WHEN that later date would be. They were kind, hard workin' folk, and my foster father ran a small fleet of fishin' boats from the wharves. They taught me to read and write, and made sure I could handle a bow at an early age. Not bein' a High Elven, the other children did nae mingle with me oer much. I lived a solitary life, and worked hard, oft times goin' out with the boats for the days haul. When I asked about other wood elves, they would shush me and tell me that one day I would understand. And then, that one day, the understandin' came. And my life turned topsy-turvy in a handcart and I were handed my bags, given a small sailboat, provisions and a chart, and were told to seek out the clerics at teh Temple of Selune in Waterdeep, southeast on the Sword Coast. I were not but sixteen. Young for a human, and even younger for an elf. But I knew after what happened they would never let me back on Evermeet. Not all them high arsed High elves. Oh, no.